Author Archives: kth

You Make My Heart Stop

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - You Make My Heart Stop

Every time I put red, yellow, and green together, I think stop light (just like any time I put red, blue, and yellow together I think school) – even this time of year!

So this card just had to happen!

There is not a lick of stamping on this card and has a bit more layers than I normally go for, but I’m really happy with it.

And tomorrow you may see a card with these same colors 😉

Thanks for taking a peek!

You Make My Heart Stop
Stamps: NONE!
Ink/Cardstock: White, Black, Pure Poppy (PTI); Crushed Curry, Gumball Green (SU);
Other: Oatmeal Cookie font (2Peas); Rectangle die (Spellbinders); Gingham paper (PTI);

Christmas Joy

Posted on by

Today is Thanksgiving in the United States. Confession – I am 41 and I don’t think I’ve ever cooked Thanksgiving all by myself…until now. Fingers crossed for me 🙂

It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #53 – sketch.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #53

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Christmas Joy

I decided to use stamping on this card to keep the layers down.

The pine bough at the top didn’t stamp fully. Instead of starting over, I filled-in, free-hand, with a marker of very similar color. Even in person, you’d have to know to look for it to find it. I’m not complimenting my skill, rather, encouraging you to try it next time a stamp doesn’t fully impress (if it doesn’t work, you haven’t lost anything).

Since I stretched the sketch to be an A2 instead of square, I chose to “add” the space at the bottom and not center the Joy panel. Also, my wheel stamps are the same size width, but I think visually the difference in color and density helps add weight.

Very simple card – and I’m quite happy with it!

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Jacqueline
Lizy
Louise
Patricia

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little About the Challenge: Posted every Thursday, the challenges alternate between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

Joy
Stamps: Pine Bough Wheel (SU); Music Notes Wheel (SU);
Ink/Cardstock: White, Scarlet Jewel, Pinefeather (PTI);
Other: Wonderful Words: Joy die (PTI);

Birthday Mums

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Birthday Mums

Another flower set I love. There is just something about the lines of this flower that I love.

Again, no challenge followed, just started moving stamps around until I liked the composition.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Make a Wish
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Mums the Word;
Ink/Cardstock: Terracotta Tile, Fine Linen, Avocado, Chocolate;
Other: Mums the Word die, Burlap impression plate;

Birthday Flowers

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Birthday Flowers

Although this is the first time I’ve inked up this set, I love it – between the ferns and Queen Anne’s Lace flowers this set really speaks to me.

I didn’t follow any challenge for this card, just die-cut and stamped a few images and started moving them around the card.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Meadow Greens, Boutique Borders #1, Communique Sentiments;
Ink/Cardstock: Autumn Rose, Simply Chartreuse, Kraft;
Other: Meadow Green dies, Boutique Borders #1 die;

Gold & Green

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Gold & Green

When it comes to metallic embossing, I prefer silver. But there is something about gold and green together at Christmastime!

This is my last design for the gift set. Now I just need the insides of all of them and get them packaged up and in the mail!

I have decided that Lil Inkers needs another stitched rectangle mat die set – with sizes in between the ones currently out. But until that happens, this set will get their work!

I chose to stamp/emboss the bow because I needed a flat card for mailing. I think if I was making this for myself, I’d use a touch of real ribbon.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Christmas Greetings
Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes (SU); Hydrangea bow (PTI); Complements of the Season (Waltzing Mouse);
Ink/Cardstock: Pinefeather, White (PTI);
Other: Gold embossing powder (Filigree); Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder (SU); Stitched Rectangle mat die (Lil Inkers);

CAS(e) This Sketch

Posted on by

I am so honored to be invited as a guest designer this week at CAS(e) This Sketch! Sketches are my favorite type of challenge – and CTS provides a perfect clean-and-simple layout every week! This week is:

CASe This Sketch #55

And here is my card:

by karen @ carefree creations - My Everything

Lately I’ve been seeing so many lovely projects using pattern paper that I was inspired to use some on my card.

I need to find a good ultra fine white embossing powder – does that exist? If so, please tell me! I would like to have embossed my sentiment but all I had was was to thick.

Thanks for taking a peek!

You Are My Moon
Stamps: Star Prints, Simply You (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: White, Fresh Snow, Simply Chartreuse (PTI); Tangerine Tango, Baja Blue (SU);
Other: patterned paper (My Minds Eye); Seeing Stars dies, Notched Star Banner (PTI); Stitched Rectangle Mat die (Lil Inkers);

Christmas Ornament

Posted on by

It is time for another CAS Colours & Sketches challenge. Check out the latest challenge: #52 – colors.

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #52

And here is my take:

by karen @ carefree creations - Christmas Ornament

Make sure you check out the other design team members:
Jacqueline
Lizy
Louise
Patricia

I hope you join us at CAS Colours & Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little About the Challenge: Posted every Thursday, the challenges alternate between color and sketch (if there is a 5th week in the month you get the double dose of color & sketch).

Christmas Ornament
Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes, More Merry Messages (SU);
Ink/Cardstock: Cream (PTI); Cranberry Crisp (instead of Cherry because I can’t read upside down), Old Olive, Crumb Cake (SU);
Other: Ornament Keepsakes die (SU); Fringe die (MFT); Stitched Rectangle Mat die (Lil Inkers); Twine (SU);

Happiest of Holidays

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Happiest of Holidays

This is my third attempt at the sponged silhouette card.

On my first attempt I stamped the sentiment too far from the tree – I think overlapping would have helped. I did have a couple folks give me some additional feedback on that card – thanks!!

My second attempt (not photographed) was basically this card, but the tree was embossed. Honestly, the only reason I scrapped that was because how warped the cardstock gets.

For this final iteration, I used a mask. It was a complete pain to cut-out the tree mask (the die wasn’t quite detailed enough to use that), but it was totally worth it. The only down-side was that, since I made 4 cards, the mask was trashed when I was done — too much ink. Next time I decide to mass-produce with masks I’ll make sure I give the mask time to dry between uses.

Now I just have 1 more card to design and my gift set is done!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Happiest of Holidays
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: In the Meadow, Think Big Favorites #20 (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Spring Rain, White (PTI);
Other: Eclipse mask paper;
Technique: masking

Holly Jolly

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Holly Jolly

Just another gift Christmas card.

The berries have stickles over them to give a tiny bit of sparkle.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Holly Jolly
Stamps: Mistletoe & Holly (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Garden Green (SU); White, Black (PTI);
Other: Frosted Lace Stickles (Ranger);

Merry & Bright

Posted on by

by karen @ carefree creations - Merry & Bright

To create this card, I used the Crazy for CAS challenge sketch.

I always like to do a few Christmas cards that are a not the traditional red/green color scheme.

12/6/2013: Woohooo! I just found out:
crazy for cas top 3 logo

Thanks for taking a peek!
Merry & Bright
All supplies Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Love Lives Here Holiday, Signature Holiday Greetings (PTI);
Ink/Cardstock: Berry Sorbet, White, Simply Chartreuse (PTI); Baked Brown-Sugar (SU);
Other: Book Print impression plate, Love Lives Here Holiday dies (PTI); Stitched Rectangle Mat die (Lil Inkers);